Dhahbi, W., Briki, W., Heissel, A., Schega, L., Dergaa, I., Guelmami, N., Omri, A. E. & Chaabene, H.
Open 11, 56 (2025).
Background: With the increase in life expectancy, age-related cognitive decline has become a prevalent concern.Physical activity (PA) is increasingly being recognized as a vital non-pharmacological strategy to counteract this decline.
This review aimed to (i) critically evaluate and synthesize the impact of different PA and exercise modalities(aerobic, resistance, and concurrent training) on cognitive health and overall well-being in older adults, (ii) discuss he influence of exercise intensity on cognitive functions, and (iii) elucidate the potential mechanisms through which PA and exercise may enhance or mitigate cognitive performance among older adults.
Main Body An exhaustive analysis of peer-reviewed studies pertaining to PA/exercise and cognitive health in older adults from January 1970 to February 2025 was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO,and MEDLINE.
There is compelling evidence that aerobic and resistance training (RT) improve cognitive function and mental health in older adults, with benefits influenced by the type and intensity of exercise.
Specifically, moderate-intensity aerobic exercise appears to bolster memory, executive functions, and mood regulation, potentially through increased cerebral blood flow, neurogenesis, and production of brain-derived neurotrophic factors in the hippocampus.
Moderate-to-high-intensity RT acutely enhances visuospatial processing and executive functions, with chronic training promoting neurogenesis, possibly by stimulating insulin-like growth factor-1 and augmenting blood flow to the prefrontal cortex.
Findings related to the effects of concurrent training on cognitive function and mental health are heterogeneous, with some studies reporting no significant impact and others reveal-ing substantial improvements. However, emerging evidence indicates that the combination of concurrent training and cognitive tasks (i.e., dual tasks) is particularly effective, often outperforming aerobic exercise alone.
Conclusions Regular aerobic and RT performance is beneficial for older adults to mitigate cognitive decline and enhance their overall well-being. Specifically, engaging in moderate-intensity aerobic exercises and moderate-to-high-intensity RT is safe and effective in improving cognitive function and mental health in this demographic.
These exercises, which can be conveniently incorporated into daily routines, effectively enhance mental agility, memory, executive function, and mood. The findings related to concurrent training are mixed, with emerging evidence indicating the effectiveness of combined concurrent and cognitive tasks on cognitive health and well-being in older adults.